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I. M. GRIFFITH. SUSPENSION BRIDGE. No. 285,257.. PateqtefLSept. I8, 1883.

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THOMAS M. GRIFFITH, OF ARLINGTON, NEWr JERSEY.

SUSPENSION-BRIDGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 285,257, dat-ed september is, 1883. Application filed August 2,1882. (No model.)

`.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, THoMiis M. GRIFFITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Arlington, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Suspension-Bridges, of which the following `is a specication.

" This invention relates to a suspension-bridge which is composed entirely of pieces o fA inoderate length and weight, whichcan easily be carried by `men or pack-mules, and which when once delivered at the site of the `proposed structure can be easily and cheaply put together, so as to form acomplete, strong, and elegant bridge.

The pecularities and improvements inthe construction of my bridge are pointed out in the following specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a sectional side View of a portion of of my bridge, including one ofthe towers. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on a larger scale than the previous gure, the line .r 00, Fig. 9, indicating the plane ofsection.' Fig. 2* is alongitudinal section in the plane y fj, Fig. 2.- Fig. 3 is aplan of the platform supporting the roadway. Fig. 4cis an elevation of a portion of one of the beain-girders, with its attachment, on a larger sca-le than the previous gures. Fig. 5 is an end view of the same. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section in the plane g/ y, Fig. 4., Fig. 7 is a vertical section in the plane z z, Fig. 2. Fig. Sis a similar section in the plane :t a, Fig. 2. Fig. 9 is an elevation of the bridge when completed. Fig. 1() is a partial front view of one of the towers. zontal section of one of the towers in the plane a z, Fig. l. Fig. 12 is a plane Vof the supporting-plate of the saddle.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, the let-ters A A, Figs. 1, 9,

, and l0, designate the towers which support the cables B B. Each of `these towers is" constructed of twelve posts, a, arranged in groups of three or more posts, each of which are connected to each other by ring-plates P, (best seen in Fig. 11,) while the several groups of posts are connected with each other by traverses and cross-braces, as hereinafter more fully explained. The posts c are constructed of wrought-iron or steel pipes, cnt in such lengths Fig. 11 is a horithat they can be easily handled, and all the pieces of pipe are as much as practicable of the same length and diameter, so that vthey can be readily packed and transported and that they can be used indiscriminately, requiring no marking and no particular attention in erecting the towers. Each of the pieces of pipe is provided with two couplings, d, one at each end, and these couplings bear against shoulders e, formed at the end of each piece of iron pipe, (one shoulder on each piece being formed after the couplings have been slipped on.) Between the adjoining ends of two pieces of iron pipe are placed plugs f, the ends of which fit the bores of the pipes, and which are provided on their outer surfaces with the screw-threads to engage with the internal screw-threads of the couplings d. Each of the plates Pis composed of three rings, c

c c2, Fig. 11, to admitl the plugs f of the corresponding posts, Fig. 1, 'and when the couplings d are screwed up tight they retain the plate l? firmly in position. The rings c c2 are vconnected by iianges c3, to which are secured the cross-braces ci, and on the-periph. eries of said rings c cl are formed screwnipples cito engage with couplings c, attached.

to the ends of the traverses c7. By these traverse, and the cross-braces c4 the four groups of posts constituting each tower are firmly connected.- rlhe ringsc of the plates l? are provided each with two screw-nipples, o8, some of which serve for the connection of traverses c, extending from one tower to the other. The ring-plates P are all of uniform size and shape, so that they can be interchanged, and require no marking.

On the top of each tower is placed a saddle, S, for the support of the cables. A side view of the saddle is shown in Fig. 1, an end View in Fig. 10, and a plan of its supporting-plate in Fig. 12. The saddle consists of a head, s, with a segmental groove, s', for the reception of the cable B. The head s is concave, (see Fig. 1,) and it rests upon rollers s2, which are placed upon the convex bed si, both the head and the bed being provided with flanges s4 to retain therollers in position. The bed s3 is placed upon the supporting-plate 55, which is placed on the top of the posts a, composing the tower, and fastened thereto by screw-nippl es s6 foot-plates d by means of screw-nipples (Il and couplings di, Fig. l. Each group of t-hree .posts is provided with its own foot-plate.

rlhe platform or roadway Gis formed of light iron or ste'el girder-beams m, Figs. 5, 2, and 3, of such a length as may be necessary for the width of the bridge required. Upon these girder-beams are laid longitudinal stri'nge'rs u of wood to receive the iiooring. This flooring consists of transverse beams o of wood, the length of which is equal to the width of the platform or roadway required. These trans verse beams are secured to the longitudinal stringers n by screws p, Fig. 2, and between them are placed washers' g, Figs. 2 and 2*, which serve to keep the same at a certain distance apart, so that the air can pass freely through between them, and the danger that the platform is lifted up by wind is materially lessened, if not altogether obviated. In lorder to still further facilitate the passage of 'wind through between the transverse beams o, their lower edges are chamfered off, as shown at r, Figs. 2 and The girder-beains m are *connected by crossbraces i, (best seen in Fig. 8, the ends of which extend through roof-shaped heads d, formed at the ends of said beams. (See Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 6.) By referring to Fig. 3 itwill be seen that the cross-braces extending from the ends of each beam pass through and cross each other in the web ofthe next succeeding beam, Fig. 2, and 'are secured to the second beam beyond. The inclined faces of the heads s form bearingsurfaces for the nuts, which serve to fasten the cross-braces in position. Said girder-beams are further connected by two pairs of longitudinal bars t t, and the required stiffness of the platform is insured'by trusses D, which also form a railing on 'each side of the platform, so as to afford entire security to men and animals. Said railings or trusses are constructed of posts u, longitudinal bars n, 'and cross-braces w, as hereinafter explained. The longitudinal bars t tare made of sections of wrought-iron or steel pipes, which are fastened together by screw-couplings t and lplugs f', Fig. S. These plugs are itted into holes in the prongs u2 of the posts a and in the webs m2 of the 'girder-beams m, and their ends iit the 'sections in the tubular bars t, which are to be connected. The couplings t are made to bear on shoulders t2, formed near the ends of each section. Then these couplings are screwed up tight, the sections t t, Fig. 8, are iirmly united. Between the prongs a and the web m2 are placed packing-pieces m3 of indiarubber or other suitable material, so as to provide for expansion and contraction. The joints betweenthe sections of the longitudinal bars t t are also rendered elastic by the interposition of packing-pieces t8 between the coupling t and shoulders t2. In the same manner the joints of the posts a, which constitute the towers, and those of the posts u and bar e, which form part of the railings, are rendered elastic.

rlhe posts a are tubular, and they are arranged in pairs at each side of the structure, such posts being inclined toward each other, their upper ends being adjacent to eachother and suitably secured in couplings a, secured to the heads u', carried by the longitudinal bars r. The lower ends of the -posts are secured to the prongs at by means of couplings a3, carried by the longitudinal ybars t, all as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 7. llhe longitudinal bars e are made of sections of wroughtiron or steel pipes, which are united to each other and to the heads u by couplings eV and Yplugs 02, said plugs being fitted linto the heads a, as shown in Fig. 7. Between the couplings o and the heads a are placed packing-pieces of india-rubber or other suitable material to provide for expansion and contraction. The cross-braces w extend from the heads a to the girder-beams m, and they are provided with turn-buckles to adj ust their tension. On the ends of the longitudinal bars t, Fig. l, are secured cushions t5, of india-rubber or other suitable material, in such a position that they are directly opposite to projection t, formed on the mason-work or wall t7. opposite the shore ends of the platform. Whenever a heavy vehicle passes upon the platform or roadway ofthe bridge, said vplatform swings in the direction of its length, and if the cushions t5 are not interposed the wall t7 is exposed to severe and injurious blows. By means of the cushions t5 these blows are avoided, and at the same time the platform is free to expand and to contract.

The girder-beams m are provided at their roof-shaped heads b with hooks b, Figs. 2 and 4, which serve to engage with the suspension wires or. ropes b2, the upper ends of which are firmly connected tothe cables B. In the middle of the bridge the cables B are secured to the girder-beams m by means of clips b3, which -contain concave boxes b* for the `cables to rest in. (See Figs. et and 5.) These clips are applied in pairs, as shown in Fig. 5, and each pair is secured to the girder-beam m by a crossbar, b5, and nuts In, which serve to draw the cross-bar up tight against the lower surface of th e girder-beam. platform and the cables is further insured by rigid braces bl, Fig. l, and by additional ropes bs, which latter extend from the towers to the platform. Each of the rigid braces b7 is secured at its bottom end 'to one of the girderbeams m by a bracket, or in any other suitable manner, and at its upper end to the eableby a clip or other device suitable for the purpose, and it extends in an oblique direction between The connection between the IOO IIO

two of the suspension-wires lf2. By these rigid braces the steadiness and firmness of thebridge is materially increased.

AIO

What l claim as new, and desire to secure .by Letters Patent, is-

` ing ends of the successive sections, and elastic packing-pieces placed between the shoulders on the pipe-sections and the screw-couplings, substantially as and for the purpose shown and described. V

3. The combination, with the posts a a and with the screw-couplings d, which serve to unite the pipe-sections composing said posts, of ring-plates P, forretaining the posts in the proper relation toward each other, substantially asshown and described.

4. The ring-plate l), provided with openings for the reception of the posts, the fiange c3, formed on said openings, and the screwnipples ci cs, substantially as and for the purpose shown and described.

5. The combination, in the construction of a tower, of four groups of posts, a, a series of ring-plates, l?, one for each-group of posts, cross-braces 0*, secured to the fianges of the ring-plates', and traverses ci, secured to -the nipples ofthe ring-plates, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination, with the posts a, of the foot-plates el', the screw-nipples d2, tted into said foot-plates, andthe screw-couplings d, fitted on the lower ends of the posts a, substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. 4The combination, with the posts c and with the cable-supporting saddle S, of a plate, s, screw-nipples s, fitted into this plate, and

screw-couplings sl, fitted to the upperI ends of the posts, substantially as and for the purpose Set forth. l

8. The combination, in the construction of the platform C, of the girder-beams m, thestringers n., the transverse beams o, and the washers or distance-pieces q, interposed betweensaid transverse beams, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. The combination, in the construction of the platform C, of the girder-beams m, the stringers n, the transverse'beams o, having their lower edges chamfered.off, and the distance-pieces q, substantially as and for the purpose shown and described.

10. The combination, in the construction of the platform lC, of the girder-beams in, the crossbracesr, the pipe-sections composing the longitudinal bars t t, the plugs f', fitted into thewebs of the girder-beams, and the screw-couplings t', substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. The combination, in the construction of the platform C, of the girder-beams m, the cross-braces i', the pipe-sections composing the longitudinal barst t, the plugs f', fitted into the webs of the girder-beams, the screwcouplings t, substantially as and for the purpose described.

12. The combination, 1n the construction of the platform C, -of the girder-beams m, the.

cross'braces r, the'pipe-sections composing and the'elastic packingpieces 1,8, g

the longitudinal bars t t, the trusses or railings D, the prongs ai, and the Vcouplings ai for uniting the posts u of the railings with the girder-beams m, substantially as set forth.

13. The combination, in the construction of the platform G, of the girder-beams m, the cross-braces r, the pipe-sections composing the longitudinal -bars t t, the plugs f', and screw-'couplings t, the prongs a2, connected to the girder-beams by the plugs f and couplings t, the posts u, connected to the prongs u? by screw-couplings ai, the heads u', connected to the posts u by couplings at, the plugs t2, fitted into the heads u', and the pipe-sections o, connected to the plugs o2 by couplings c, substantially as and for t-he purpose set forth.

14. r)The combination, with the platform C, of elastic cushions t, interposed between the shore ends of the platform and the mason,- work opposite to said shore ends, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

15. The combination, with the cables B, the suspension-wires b2, the platform G, and girder-beams m, of roof-shaped heads b, which are rigidly attached to the girder-beams and provided with hooks b', substantially as and for the purpose described.

16. The combination, with the cable B, the suspension-wires b2, and the platform C, of rigid braces bl, inserted between and connected to the cables and to the girder-beams m, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

f17. The combination, with the girder-beams on, and the cable B, of clips b3, boxes If, crossbars b5, and nuts b, to form a firm connection IOO between the platform and the cable, snbstalr hand' and seal in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS M. GRIFFITH. [1.. s]

4itnessesz HORACE XV. GRIFFITH, W. HAUFF.' 

